At the 97th GRIPS Forum on July 28, 2014, Dr. Takenori Inoki, Professor, Aoyama Gakuin University, gave a lecture titled “On Capital in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Piketty—Revisit the Theory of Income Inequality”.

• Abstract

Income inequality is one of the most controversial topics in modern industrial society. For the last quarter century, an intense debate has flared up again over this subject among economic researchers. The mass media and civil movements alike respond sensitively to inequality. The recently published English translation of Capital in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Piketty, a French economist, has also generated much interest among readers in English-speaking countries. I would like to highlight the salient and controversial points of this book and discuss the implications of this book for future social science research.

• Speakers’ Profile:

Dr. Takenori Inoki is Specially-appointed Professor, Aoyama Gakuin University. Before assuming the present post, he was Professor, Dept. of Economics, Osaka University (1987-2002). Dean, Dept. of Economics, Osaka University (1995-1997). Professor, International Research Center for Japanese Studies (2002-2008). Most recently he was Director-General, International Research Center for Japanese Studies (2008-2012). He obtained his B.A. in faculty of Economics at the University of Kyoto in 1968 and his Ph.D. in Economics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1974. Mr. Inoki’s specialties include Labor economics, Modern History of economic thought. He has numerous books and articles in Japanese and English including “Keizai shisō” (Economic Thought) , Iwanami Shoten, “Jiyū to chitsujo: Kyōsō shakai no futatsu no kao” (Freedom and Order: Two Faces of Competitive Society), “Sengo Sekai Keizaishi,” (Post-War World Economic History),”Keizaigaku ni Nani ga Dekirunoka”,Chūō Kōron Shinsha, and many more. He received the Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon for his academic achievements in 2002.